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"Free Fall" by Carolyn Coalson, oil on paper 2009


Below are 3 poems about FALL, which have been translated into English from their original language, namely Dutch, German and French.

The problem with poetry is that it is in fact untranslatable because the rhythm gets lost. Therefore the "soul of the poem" will never be caught in the translated form. An other problem is that we have to learn all  languages of the world in order to be able to catch the soul of a poem in a language we do not understand. Who would not LOVE to read PUSHKIN in Russian, or Cavafy in Greek, or Rumi and Hafiz in Persian?

So, most of us have to rely on translation to get to know a foreign poet's, way of thinking and poetry. In this way poetry is less accessible than the art of painting, sculpture, architecture and music for which no translation is needed.

For this reason we wanted to add some famous foreign poets, whose work we admire, either in translation or in their original version.



October


 Oktober 

M. Vasalis  1909-1998

(Dutch original)
   
Tender and young, as if it were spring Teeder en jong, als werd het voorjaar
but lighter yet, not burdened with new fruit, maar lichter nog, want zonder vruchtbegin,
with thin mist between the yellow leaves, met dunne mist tusschen de gele blaren
quietly the time of fall begins. zet stil het herfstgetijde in.
   
I feel alone, that I love Ik voel alleen, dat ik bemin,
like a child, something young, something old, zooals een kind, iets jongs, iets ouds,
end or beginning? Something so known eind of begin? Iets zo vertrouwds
and so undone of all conflict— en zoo van alle strijd ontheven—
not as an end of life, niet als een einde van het leven,
but as the spring of death. maar als de lente van den dood.
The rarefied crowns, the naked trunks, De kruinen ijl, de stammen bloot
and this surrounded by silence and mist en dit door stilte en mist omgeven.
   
Translation by www.cs-music.com  
For more info about the poet:
click here
 
   

Autumn

Herbsttag 

Reiner Maria Rilke  1875-1926 

(German original)
   
Lord: it is time now, Herr: es ist Zeit.
for the summer has gone on and on. Der Sommer war sehr groß.
Lay your shadow along the sundials, Leg deinen Schatten auf die Sonnenuhren,
and in the fields let winds blow free. und auf den Fluren lass die Winden los.
   
Command the last fruit to be ripe; Befiehl den letzten Früchten voll zu sein;
let it bow down the vine, gieb ihnen noch zwei südlichere Tage,
with perhaps two sun-warm days more dränge sie zur Vollendung hin und jage
to force last sweetness in the heavy wine. die letzte Süsse in den schweren Wein.
   
Whoever has no house now Wer jetzt kein Haus hat,
will not build one anymore. baut sich keines mehr.
Whoever is alone now will remain so for a long time, Wer jetzt allein ist, wird es lange bleiben,
will stay up, read, write long letters, wird wachen, lesen, lange Briefe schreiben
and will wander the avenues, up and down, und wird in den Alleen hin und her
restlessly, while the leaves are blowing. unruhig wandern, wenn die Blätter treiben
   
Translation by Carolyn & Elenor  
For more info about the poet
see poetry index "Evening"
 
   

Autumn Song

Chanson d'automne 

Paul Verlaine  1844-1896 

(French original)
   
The long sighs Les sanglots longs
Of the violins Des violons
Of autumn De l'automne
Hurt my heart Blessent mon coeur
With a languor D'une langueur
Of sameness Monotone.
   
All stifling Tout suffocant
And pale, when Et blême, quand
The hour sounds, Sonne l'heure,
I remember Je me souviens
Days of once Des jours anciens
And I weep. Et je pleure.
   
And I let myself go Et je m'en vais
With the evil wind Au vent mauvais
Which carries me Qui m'emporte
Here, beyond Deçà, delà,
Like the leaf Pareil à la
Which has died Feuille morte.
   
Translation by Eli Siegel 
For more info about the poet:
click here

To hear the original French version:
click here